Title: Facing the enemy

Type of teaching unit: Lesson plan
Grade level: 8, (Can be used and adapted at High School Levels, 9-12)
Time frame: one day
Subject matter: US history

Teacher information

Peggy Emling and Steve Moss

Liberty and Lincoln middle schools

Edwardsville, Illinois

AAM affiliation: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

pemling@ecusd7.org and smoss@ecusd7.org

Lesson Plan Description and Rationale:

In times of conflict, governments use artwork to stir the public’s emotions, to encourage patriotism and to involve
public participation in the war effort. While the use of posters is one avenue for this propaganda, this artwork
also demonstrates society’s attitudes. To understand how the government characterized the enemy to further its cause,
students will compare and analyze two posters from World War II.

State Standards:

Social science:

STATE GOAL 16: Understand events, trends, individuals and movements shaping the history of Illinois, the United States and other nations.
16.A.3b Make inferences about historical events and eras using historical maps and other historical sources.
16.A.3c Identify the differences between historical fact and interpretation.

English/Language Arts:

STATE GOAL 5: Use the language arts to acquire, assess and communicate information
5.B.3a Choose and analyze information sources for individual, academic and functional purposes.
5.B.3b Identify, evaluate and cite primary sources.

Objectives:

To understand how the government characterized the enemy to further its cause.

Methods:

With students, define propaganda. Discuss with students the reasons why a government would use propaganda during wartime.

Assessment:

Show students the two posters and have them complete the worksheet.

Keywords: propaganda, world war II, Japan, enemy